A woman filed the paperwork Wednesday to be a candidate for president of Iran. Razieh Omidvar, 46, is not the first female in Iran to register as a candidate for the presidency, but no woman has been approved as a final candidate on the ballot over the past three decades.
Iran’s constitution states that the president must be “a political and religious figure (rajul).” Rajul is the Arabic word for “man,” so there have been disputes whether to interpret this word as “figure” or “man.”
Iran’s Guardian Council of the Constitution is responsible for final approval of candidates. It’s up to this Council to interpret the word “rajul” as stated in law.
Fars News reported that after she filed her registration papers, reporters asked Omidvar if she considers herself a “political-religious figure.”
“I do not answer political questions,” she replied, but later explained that she has plans to deal with inflation. Iran’s inflation rate has increased dramatically in the past several years and is now reported to be one of the world’s highest.
Her last name “Omidvar” means “hopeful” in Persian which has gained her even more attention on social media.
